GAME RECAPS

BARONS OUTSHOOT THE AEROS, FALL SHORT 2-1

By Eric Rodgers, on 02/23/2013

A scoreless 2nd and 3rd periods capped off a three-goal 1st period that saw the Oklahoma City Barons come out on the losing end, 2-1 against the Houston Aeros at the Toyota Center in Houston. On the back half of a home-and-home series, Yann Danis made 21 saves in the loss while Matt Hackett turned away 36 shots to earn the win. Yann Danis falls to a 15-13-3 record on the season, and Hackett improved to 18-18-3.

The scoring began mid-way through the 1st period as Dan DaSilva, received a pass from Chad Rau and DaSilva scored at 10:08 to put the Aeros up 1-0. The Barons tied it up minutes later after killing a Martin Marincin penalty. Marincin, fresh out of the box, sent a slow puck up the ice on a dump attempt. Kyle Medvec reached for the puck and missed, unaware that Mark Arcobello was coming up behind him. Arcobello grabbed the puck, skated in and put the puck between the legs of Hackett at 14:54.

Less than a minute later, Steven Kampfer received the puck off a faceoff and wristed the puck past a screened Danis to make it 2-1 at 15:49 in what proved to be the game-winner, as the teams reached the intermission.

In the middle frame, the Barons benefitted from three Aeros penalties, but were unable to convert on those opportunities. The Barons committed one penalty and also killed that off as the Barons outshot the Aeros 11-7 in the period. As the Barons looked for the equalizer in the 3rd period, their best chances came on a power play in the middle of the period. A last minute rally with the empty net came up short and the Barons fell in Houston 2-1.

This became the eighth time in nine meetings between the two teams that the game has been decided by one goal. The New Year's Day contest was decided by two goals, but that was created by an empty net goal. The only game not truly decided by on goal was the first meeting of the season on October 26.

The Barons' power play went 0-for-4 on the night, while the penalty kill improved it's percentage by going 2-for-2. This marked the end of four straight weekends that the Barons played the same team back-to-back, going 4-3-0-1 in that stretch.

The Barons fall to 24-20-2-5 on the season and Houston improved to 28-20-4-3. Oklahoma City sits 10th in the Western Conference, just outside of the playoff picture. Toronto has the eighth spot, three points ahead of the Barons.

Oklahoma City returns home this Tuesday against the Texas Stars at 7 pm for another Winning Weekday. When the Barons win on a Winning Weekday, all fans in attendance receive a free ticket to the next weekday game. The next weekday game takes place March 19th against the Rochester Americans.